Just then, a sudden, constricting pressure wrapped around her left leg. Looking down with a jolt of fear, she saw a thick, vine-like appendage tightly coiled around her ankle before it cinched with surprising strength and began to inexorably pull her forward. It wasn't a vine, she realized with a sickening lurch of understanding, but the grotesquely long, sticky tongue of a large, humanoid bullfrog-like creature. It stood on two strong, muscular legs, its bulbous, mottled green body towering over her. Short, stubby arms ended in webbed hands, one of which clutched a crude spear fashioned from some kind of sharpened wood. Its eyes were two large, unblinking yellow orbs that held a distinct and chilling malice within their depths. Jade knew with a primal certainty that if she didn't act immediately, she was about to die. She had mere seconds before she was dragged within reach of that menacing spear. Reacting on pure instinct, she twisted around, her desperate hand scrabbling for purchase on the forest floor until her fingers closed around a large, jagged rock. With a grunt of exertion, she slammed the heavy stone down against her trapped ankle and the thick, sticky tongue constricting it. The toad-like creature let out a guttural, gurgled scream of pain and surprise, its grip instantly releasing. Jade scrambled to her feet, her injured ankle protesting with a sharp stab of pain, threatening to buckle beneath her weight. Ignoring the searing ache, she lunged towards the creature, knowing she needed to close the distance quickly, rendering its longer spear useless. Once she was within striking range, she swung the rock with all her might, smashing it against the side of the toad's broad, lumpy head. She knew she needed to end this quickly before the creature could recover and gather its wits. It swung its crude spear in a clumsy arc, trying to push her back, but Jade reacted swiftly, catching the shaft in her hands and holding on tight. The creature's continued momentum slammed her backward into the rough bark of a nearby tree, momentarily knocking the wind from her lungs. It yanked the spear back with surprising force, its intent clear: to impale her through the stomach. Reacting just in time, Jade dove to the side, then rolled to avoid the deadly thrust as the sharp point of the spear slammed into the soft earth inches from her head. During her desperate roll, Jade caught a quick glimpse of a small, worn pack tucked behind the base of a nearby tree, and leaning against it was some kind of short sword, its metal glinting faintly in the dappled light. Seizing the opportunity, Jade took a chance and sprinted towards the pack, her injured ankle screaming in protest with every step. The toad-like creature, realizing her intent, tried to shoot its long, sticky tongue after her once more, but it just missed, the thick appendage slapping against the ground right behind her, giving her the precious seconds she needed to reach the pack. Her fingers fumbled with the worn leather handle before she finally managed to grab the hilt of the short sword. She had never held a weapon in her life, but now was certainly not the time for hesitantion. She just needed to rely on basic instincts. The weight of the sword felt surprisingly balanced in her hand. The blade itself had an interesting leaf shape with a small, functional guard, but that was all she registered before she had to jump back to avoid the sharp point of the spear as the enraged creature swung wildly towards her. She knew she needed to get closer; the sword's reach was significantly shorter than the creature's spear. Jade stood back cautiously, waiting for even the slightest opening in the creature's clumsy attacks, and just then, the toad overextended itself, its wide stance leaving a vulnerable opening in its side With a surge of adrenaline, she lunged forward, driving the leaf-shaped sword deep into the creature's stomach. She watched, her breath catching in her throat as the light visibly faded from its large, unblinking yellow eyes. She took a shaky step back, pulling the bloodied sword free, wiping the blood off in a patch of grass before instinctively sliding the sword into the belt of her jeans for now. A strange sensation, a subtle warmth, flowed through her body, and simultaneously, a translucent gray screen flickered into her vision.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
> [You have encountered a Bullywug!]
> [Gained: 20 Experience]
> [Loot available: healing ointment and dead snake]
> [Skill Activated (Passive): Combat Instinct (Novice) - +2% chance to react quickly in combat.]
> [New skill: Xiphos Weapon (Novice) +3%]
>
Jade stared at the glowing notification, her mind reeling in disbelief. Skills? Experience points? Was she trapped inside some bizarre, hyper-realistic game? She shook her head vehemently; she didn't have time for this surreal madness. What if there were more of these monstrous bullywugs lurking in the surrounding forest? She desperately needed to find shelter, or perhaps even a village of some kind, a place where this nightmare might somehow make sense. She cautiously walked over to the now-lifeless form of the bullywug and gently rested her hand over its head, and a small screen flickered into existence.
> [Accept loot?]
>
Jade’s thoughts echoed a hesitant yes, and a small, tarnished tin jar materialized in her outstretched hand with a dried snake appearing on top.
[healing ointment (basic bullywug made) - apply generously to desired area; results may vary...]
[Dehydrated snake consumable taste like chicken]
She cautiously pried open the lid, a wave of nauseating odor assaulting her senses. It smelled like the unholy union of the worst gym sock she could imagine and stagnant swamp water. With a grimace, she quickly snapped the lid back on. It's not that desperate… yet. Jade took a couple of hesitant steps back and then moved towards the small, rough sack lying near the fallen bullywug. Opening it, she found some basic, fraying bandages and a container filled with something labeled "swamp paste." She tied the sack securely to her belt next to the surprisingly comforting weight of the sword and turned slowly, her gaze sweeping the dense foliage, trying to discern a safe direction. Instinctively, her hand drifted to the smooth, warm stone nestled in her pocket, and she felt a subtle tug in her mind – an almost imperceptible whisper urging her to follow. She turned slowly, deliberately, until the tugging sensation grew more insistent, a gentle pull towards a specific direction. She stopped, a flicker of doubt crossing her features. Should she blindly trust this strange feeling? What other viable option did she currently possess in this bizarre, hostile world? She pulled out the obsidian stone, and it pulsed once more in her palm, radiating a comforting warmth that seemed to seep into her very bones, accompanied by a faint feeling of… hope… as if the stone somehow understood her hesitation and offered silent reassurance. Jade let out a breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding, a small sigh of surrender to the unknown, and followed her instincts, the gentle pull of the stone guiding her steps.
